BUILDING A LOG-HOUSE. 

.See pa^e 36. 



THE 



BACKWOODS BOY 

Wka team a MUnisttr I 



OR, THE FAMILY AND PERSONAL HISTORY OF 
HENRY ADOLPH. 



By Key. J. H. PITEZEL, 

AUTHOR OF "LIGHTS AND SHADES OF MISSIONARY LIFE." 



SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Ntm finrk: ® 

PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 200 MULBERRY -STREET. 




6 



PEEFACE. 



here given, is a history of change, 
and is made up of cloud and sunshine. 
It is a comment on the inconstancy 
of all things earthly, and illustrates 
the power of Divine grace to give 
support when earthly hopes are fled. 
The guiding hand of Providence is 
also clearly seen in the whole, caus- 
ing all things to work together for 
good to them that love God. Hop- 
ing that its results may be, as its 
humble aim has been — to do good, 
it is now submitted to all such as 
may chance to look into its pages. 

The Author. 

May 29, 1858. 



CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER L 

Henry's Parentage and Early Life in the 
East Page 11 

CHAPTER EL 

Removal to the West — Settlement in the 
Backwoods — Henry's Conversion 30 

CHAPTER HL 

Another Beginning in the Woods — Family In- 
cidents — Last Removal — Father's Death 
— Subsequent Vicissitudes 44 

CHAPTER IV. 
The Apprenticeship 66 



CHAPTER V. 
Convictions of Duty and Efforts to be Useful. 84 



s 



COISTTEOTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 
Efforts to acquire an Education Page 100 

CHAPTER VII. 
The Boy Preacher.... 112 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Incidents of Henry's Life in the Regular 
Ministry 131 

CHAPTER IX. 

Mission Life of Henry Adolph — Characteris- 
tics of his Mission Field — Climate — Pro- 
ducts — Manner of Living, Travel, etc. — 
Closing Remarks to the Youthful Reader.... 146 



lUMtrstijOfits. 



Page 

Building a Log-House 2 

Camp-Meeting 18 

Henry and his Mother 26 

Prayer-Meeting in Mr. Adolph's Room 58 

Boys' Prayer-Meeting 78 

Fording a River 124 

Indian Canoe 159 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



CHAPTER I 

HENRY'S PARENTAGE AND EARLY LIFE. 

Mr. and Mrs. Adolph,. the parents 
of Henry, were natives of Red Valley, 

in tlie state of , about fifty miles 

from the city of Baltimore. Mr. 
Adolph was an only son. At the 
death of his mother, he became 
heir to what was then considered a 
valuable estate. Wedded to Miss 
Mary Otis, a young lady distin- 
guished by beauty of personal appear- 
ance, and possessed of many of the 



12 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



charms of her sex, he launched out on 
the sea of life with bright hopes and 
cheering prospects. Not satisfied to 
live entirely without God in the world, 
they both united with the Lutheran 
Church, were catechised, partook of 
the holy sacrament of the Lord's sup- 
per, and attended to other outward 
observances, in the use of which they 
thought they were rendering accept- 
able service to God. But Mrs. Adolph 
soon became convinced that their re- 
ligion was one of form, without spirit, 
life, or power. 

Methodist preaching was now estab- 
lished in the neighborhood ; its nov- 
elty drew many out to hear, among 
others Mrs. Adolph. The plain style 
and forcible manner of the preachers 
soon made a deep impression on her 
heart. 



PAKENTAGE AND EAELY LIFE. 13 

Mr. Adolph observed with great 
uneasiness this anxious concern of his 
wife. For the Methodists he had 
no feeling but that of scorn. He 
thought them to be a very delud- 
ed people, and that no greater dis- 
grace could come upon his family than 
for his wife to unite with them ; hence 
he strove to draw her away from un- 
der this influence by the promise of 
fine clothes and costly entertainments. 
He hoped in worldly pleasures and 
amusements to drown her serious im- 
pressions. But she was not to be de- 
luded by such vanities. She told Mr 
Adolph that, at all hazards^ she must 
try to save her soul. 

Her whole mind became aroused 
by a sense of her sinfulness. In her 
midnight dreams, as well as in her 
waking reflections, the realities of 



14 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



eternity were before her. At one 
time she dreamed that the judgment- 
day had come, and that she saw the 
rising dead and other scenes of that 
august exhibition. A heavenly mes- 
senger was heard to utter, a She is 
weighed in the balances and found 
wanting." In the agitation of her 
mind she looked up, and the scene 
was entirely changed ! Instead of 
Christ seated in awful majesty on his 
throne of judgment, she saw him 
hanging on the cross. Never did such 
benignity and love beam in any coun- 
tenance as in that of her Saviour. 
The words of the poet rushed into her 
mind : 

" Let Him who raised thee from the dead 
Quicken my mortal frame." 

A heavenly change seemed to come 
iver her, and she was tranquil and 



PARENTAGE AND EARLY LIFE. 15 

happy. She awoke, and found it all 
a dream; but the impression it left 
did not become effaced. 

At length, at her own home, none 
being present but her husband and 
two little infant boys, she gave vent 
to the agony of her mind, and cried 
aloud to God for mercy. He heard 
her prayer and came to her relief; 
and such was the power of God, in 
breaking the chains of sin, that she 
shouted forth the praises of her great 
deliverer. Had all the world been 
present, she felt that she could not 
have held her peace. 

Mr. Adolph could not withstand 
the power of God, as seen in his wife's 
conversion. His prejudices yielded 
to conviction. He was now willing 
that his wife should join the Method- 
ists, and even urged her to do so; 



16 BACKWOODS BOY. 



but she preferred to wait for him to 
unite with her. 

God has many ways of bringing 
sinners to repentance. Mr. Adolph 
was naturally very highminded. To 
humble his pride and to soften his 
obdurate heart, God chose to lead him 
through deep waters of affliction. By 
a violent disease he was brought 
near to death's door. For about nine 
months he was helpless as an infant. 
With the best medical advice and 
assistance, he was thought to be past 
cure, and he looked upon death as at 
hand. But he felt himself to be 
wholly unprepared for such a change. 
On that bed of suffering he promised, 
that if the Lord would once more 
raise him up, he would strive in fu- 
ture to serve him. As in the case of 
Hezekiah, God was pleased to grant 



PAKENTAGKE A35TD EAELY LIFE. 19 

him his request, and he so far recov- 
ered as to be enabled to fulfill his 
vow, though, from some mysterious 
cause, his constitution was so shattered 
that he became a cripple for life. 

Suffice it to say that, at a camp- 
meeting soon after, which was one of 
great power, signalized by many con- 
versions, Mr. Adolph met with a most 
happy change. 

From this time onward his house 
became a home for the traveling 
preachers. Such men as E. E. Eoberts, 
(late bishop,) S. G. Eoszel, Jacob Gru- 
ber, Nicholas Snethen, and many 
others, often found shelter under his 
roof. Preaching was established reg- 
ularly near by, and a class of five mem- 
bers organized, which soon grew to 
about fifty. 

The principal lack of the young so- 



20 BACKWOODS BOY. 



ciety was a convenient place for di- 
vine worship. Mr. Adolph had on 
his farm a distillery ; from this place 
streams of death had, in former years, 
issued out in every direction. An in- 
fectious moral atmosphere had arisen 
from this house of death, and settled 
down over the surrounding country. 
To undo, as far as possible, the evil of 
the past, Mr. Adolph thought best to 
turn the devil's battery against him- 
self. With great readiness the people 
united to cast out the old swill-tubs, 
and whisky barrels, and boilers, and 
finally the venemous still-worm. From 
top to bottom it underwent a process 
of purification. It was lathed, plas- 
tered, and furnished with seats and a 
pulpit, from which the pure word of 
life was often preached. Near the 
door was a beautiful spring of pure 



PARENTAGE AND EAELY LIFE. 21 

water to refresh the thirsty; and 
now, from within, whence streams of 
death had issued, water from the 
river of life flowed freely, and thirsty 
souls were invited to come and drink. 
God owned the truth as here pro- 
claimed, and the records of eternity 
only will unfold the good done in the 
converted distillery. 

It was in this humble spot that 
Mr. and Mrs. Adolph laid the foun- 
dation of their religious experience, 
and of their future hope, which 
cheered them on to their dying day. 

Having told you this much about 
Henry's parents, I must now give you 
an account of his birth and boyhood. 

Henry was born in Ked Valley, 

April 18,1814. He was the third child 

of his parents ; the first two were girls. 

So interesting and lovely were these 
2 



22 BACKWOODS BOY. 



two little ones, that the hearts of the 
fond parents were, no doubt, too 
much set on them, and in their love 
of the gift they had well nigh lost 
sight of the Giver. In autumn of 
1812, just as the leaves began to drop 
from the forest trees, the first-born 
dropped into an untimely grave. Six 
months, lacking two days, then passed, 
and the other one followed her little 
sister. 

Though Henry was never permit- 
ted to see the faces of his sweet little 
sisters, he has often seen their infant 
graves, and indulged the hope that, 
in the morning of the resurrection, 
he should see them, when they shall 
be clothed with the beautiful robes 
of immortality, and be no more sub- 
ject to death. For aught he knows, 
it may not be possible now to tell the 



PARENTAGE AND EAELY LIFE. 23 

exact spot where they sleep; but 
there is one who 

"Watches all their dust, 
Till He shall bid it rise." 

How glorious is the hope which 
the religion of the blessed Jesus in- 
spires ! 

Though at a very early age Henry 
was called to leave the place of his 
birth, he has ever retained a vivid 
recollection of the home of his child- 
hood. After many years have fled, 
he fancies that he can see how the 
brick house looked in which he was 
born. He remembers the corn crib 
and the barn, and the converted dis- 
tillery, a little farther off. He can 
call to mind some venerable-looking 
poplars, and several chestnut trees, 
where he often gathered chestnuts. 
And there was the beautiful grove in 



24 BACKWOODS BOY. 



which he often played ; and yonder 
the orchards and the cherry trees ; 
and in the rear of the house was the 
clover field, in the centre of which 
stood a large apple tree, whose fruit 
was his favorite. Away off in one 
corner of the farm stood a large black- 
heart cherry tree, which bore deli- 
cious fruit. Then there were patches 
of raspberries and blackberries. The 
garden also, near the house, was filled 
with fruits and flowers. This owed 
much of its beauty and fruitfulness 
to the care of his mother. Here was 
also the bee-house, where the " little 
busy bees" laid up their precious 
store. He has not forgotten the 
spacious yard which surrounded the 
house, covered with green grass and 
shaded with locust and fruit trees. 
In this yard he often erected little 



HENRY AND HIS OTHER. 



PAKENTAGE AND EAELY LIFE. 27 

pulpits, in imitation of the stands 
from which the preachers used to 
preach at camp-meetings. Here he 
would collect the children and domes- 
tics about him, and "make believe" 
that he was preaching. These and 
many such scenes have left their 
clear traces on his memory's page, 
and have not grown dim in the lapse 
of years. 

Henry's mother took great pains 
to teach him the fear of the Lord. 
As soon as he could lisp he was taught, 
kneeling, with his head on his moth- 
er's lap, to pray the Lord's prayer; 
and before going to bed at night he 
learned to repeat : 

" Now I lay me down to sleep, 
I pray the Lord my soul to keep, 
If I should die before I wake, 
I pray the Lord my soul to take." 



28 BACKWOODS BOY. 

Often did his mother clasp his tiny 
hand in hers, and lead him into her 
closet, where he kneeled by her side, 
while she prayed, when he did not 
know the cause why she should weep 
as she did. He was taught also a 
form of blessing to ask at table. 
When he did anything wrong his 
kind mother would try to show him 
how wicked he had been in so doing; 
and sometimes she would send him 
away to ask God to forgive him. He 
does not remember to have used 
profane language except once. For 
this he was severely chastised with 
the rod, and never repeated the 
crime. 

Among the earliest influences 
brought to bear upon Henry's mind 
were the pious instructions of minis- 
ters. They placed in his hands tracts 



PAEENTAGE JlND EARLY LIFE 29 

and little books, and taught him to 
commit to memory such little hymns 
as, 

" How doth the little busy bee," etc. 

and 

" Let dogs delight to bark and bite," etc. 

Among the tracts which deeply 
impressed his mind at this early age 
were "The Dairyman's Daughter" 
and "The Shepherd of Salisbury 
Plain." These and similar works he 
used to read aloud for his mother 
while she would knit or sew. 

He was early sent to school, and 
made some advances in knowledge 
for his years. But schools were not 
then what they are now, and the 
privations of after years rendered his 
earlier lessons at school less salutary. 
Thus passed swiftly the sunny days 
of Henry's early childhood. 



30 BACKWOODS BOY. 



CHAPTEK II. 

EEMOYAL TO THE WEST. 

A great change had now come 
over the prospects of Henry's father. 
Having nearly lost the use of his 
limbs, and endured violent attacks of 
disease, with little abatement for 
years, he had been a great sufferer; 
and with wasted health his fortune 
was also gone. His doctor's bills 
were enough to make a man, in 
ordinary circumstances, poor. His 
farm, committed mostly to the care 
of servants, became impoverished, and 
did not pay expenses. And, besides, 
he had never carefully considered the 
words of Solomon : " He that is surety 
for a stranger shall smart for it : and 



EEMOVAL TO THE WEST. 31 

he that hateth suretyship is sure." 
Had he learned this lesson well, he 
might have avoided great trouble and 
suffering. As it was, he became 
security for others for a large amount, 
and had it to pay. Meanwhile prop- 
erty, which was once valuable, had 
depreciated to a mere nominal value. 
Under the pressure of these afflictions 
and losses, he found it necessary to 
dispose of his property, and go some- 
where else. 

The far West, then called the Back- 
woods, was much talked about, and 
was finally fixed upon as his future 
home. Much of the new country was 
then an unbroken forest. Mr. Eli 
Otis, a brother to Henry's mother, 
owned a fine tract of land in the West, 
and was to accompany Mr. Adolph 
and his family. He was in the vigor 



32 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



of manhood, and had no family to 
care for. 

After closing up his business, Mr. 
Adolph had but little property left. 
Accounts to the amount of about 
seven hundred dollars were left with 
a gentleman for collection ; but about 
half of this, when collected, must go 
to Mr. Otis, to pay him for money 
advanced on Mr. Adolph's account. 
The small balance he hoped to have 
the benefit of in securing a home. 
The result we will soon see. Over 
and above these accounts, his property 
consisted of a large Pennsylvania 
wagon, a one-horse wagon, four horses, 
and some loose furniture, which he 
took with him to the West. 

But now came the time of trial to 
Mrs. Adolph. The thought of leav- 
ing her comfortable home, with her 



REMOVAL TO THE WEST. 33 

religious privileges, and tearing asun- 
der so many endearing ties, nearly 
overcame her. She went out into the 
garden. There she saw the fruits 
and flowers nurtured by her own 
hands. The pink, the tulip, and the 
rose, and the honey-suckle which she 
had taught to twine up over the gate- 
posts, with a variety of the choicest 
fruits, she looked upon and left with 
sad heart. She took a last look, and 
wept once more over the graves of 
her two loved ones. In a word, she 
took a last survey of all the old 
familiar scenes which she had loved 
so well. And then, accompanied by 
a sister, she went into her chamber, 
and taking her hymn-book in her 
hand, she opened it to see if she 
could not light on something to 
soothe her agitated breast. Her eye 



34 BACKWOODS BOY. 



first meets that encouraging hymn 
beginning : 

" Peace, troubled soul, thou needst not fear, 
Thy great Provider still is near ; 
Who fed thee last will feed thee still ; 
Be calm, and sink into his "will." 

As she read these sweet words 
they were to her as the voice of God 
speaking to her heart. 

Accompanied by Mr. Otis, they 
at length commenced their journey, 
which led across the Alleghany 
mountains, a distance of about three 
hundred miles. This was in the 
spring of 1823. The roads were 
rough and muddy, and it required 
three weeks of toil and exposure to 
reach their destined home. Worn 
by fatigue they were at length re- 
joiced to find their journey ended, 
just as the sugar season was closing. 



REMOVAL TO THE WEST. 35 

They stopped at a place which we 
will call Lime Spring, and for a time 
took up their abode with a cousin, 
who had pushed out before them. 

The country, though wild and 
rugged, possessed many attractions. 
It was generally healthy; the soil 
was very superior, water good, and 
the growth of trees and vegetation 
luxuriant. Herds of deer were fre- 
quently seen grazing near the houses. 
There were numerous flocks of wild 
turkeys, and, in fact, the forest 
abounded with game. A few clays 
after their arrival, Henry had reached 
his ninth year. 

After the planting and sowing of 
the spring crop, which was in rented 
ground, Mr. Adolph built a hewed 
log house on his brother-in-law's farm, 
with permission to make that his 



36 BACKWOODS BOY. 



residence until he could do better. 
Here lie went into the thick woods, 
where he had first to clear off a spot 
large enough for the house, before 
fields and other improvements were 
added.* 

The pioneers went into their new 
house while in an unfinished state — 
without doors, windows, or chimney, 
and with the chinks all open. Here 
they were annoyed by flies and mus- 
quitoes, and found many privations 
and hardships, to them, till then, un- 
known. 

It was during the residence at this 
place that Henry found the pearl of 
great price. He had closed his tenth 
year about four months before this 
event. This occurred at a camp- 
meeting which was held that season 

6 See Frontispiece. 



EEMOVAL TO THE WEST. 37 

about thirty miles distant. At some 
sacrifice, and considerable inconveni- 
ence, Henry's parents went to this 
meeting, and took him and two of 
his cousins, and a hired man, along 
with them. They all professed to be 
converted before their return. The 
meeting was one of great power, and 
there were probably a hundred con- 
versions, as the blessed fruit, besides 
a great quickening of old professors. 

In this connection, it may not be 
amiss to trace some of the exercis- 
es of Henry's mind preceding and 
accompanying this great spiritual 
change. It may be supposed that 
at this early age his feelings were 
but little excited by a sense of his 
sins, and that the change in his spir- 
itual state was so gradual as hardly 
to be perceived. But such was not 



38 BACKWOODS BOY. 



the case. He had often felt the keen 
smartings of guilt, though he had 
been restrained from open vice. He 
well knew that he was not at peace 
with God, and that, dying in such a 
state, he must be forever miserable. 
Sometimes when he laid down to 
sleep he would think how lost would 
be his condition if he should die 
before he awoke. When he was 
asleep, he was often troubled with 
frightful dreams. When he heard 
the loud thunder and saw the vivid 
lightning, he would fear lest God, by 
some sudden stroke, should take 
away his life. Morning and evening 
he repeated the prayers which his 
mother had taught him. But this 
was often no more than lip service, 
and did not come from the depth 
of the heart. With all his religious 



REMOVAL TO THE WEST. 39 

instruction, lie had not yet learned 
what it was to repent heartily for 
sin, and believe in the Lord Jesus 
Christ. His heart was full of pride, 
unbelief, and enmity to God, • and 
often led him to do that which gave 
him sorrow afterward. 

But through great mercy, at the 
camp-meeting referred to, he was 
liberated from this cruel bondage; 
and for this he was indebted, under 
God, to the earnest efforts of his 
mother. Frequently during the meet- 
ing the ministers and other praying 
persons formed what they called a 
" prayer ring." Into this ring all 
seekers of religion were invited, and 
here they received the prayers and 
counsels of the pious. At one time 
several children and youth found 

their way into this circle, and among 
3 



40 BACKWOODS BOY. 



others, Henry's cousins were on their 
knees crying for mercy. But Henry 
kept at a distance, until his mother 
came and urged him to go into the 
circle and be prayed for. At first he 
felt vexed at his mother, and wished 
she had stayed away. But she was in 
earnest, and would not be put off. 
So Henry yielded to her urgent 
request, and she led him by the hand 
into the praying circle. 

But when he had kneeled down, 
he did not know what to say, and 
was tempted to think that people 
would make sport of him. His mind 
became much perplexed. But he 
resolved that his case could be no 
worse by making a fair trial. He 
looked up to God, in the use of that 
most appropriate prayer, "God be 
merciful to me a sinner." Mercy was 



REMOVAL TO THE WEST. 41 

all his plea. At first his breathings 
were uttered in a whisper ; but at 
length he overcame his base man- 
fearing spirit, and cried aloud to God 
for deliverance. And then he feared 
none but God, and did not care if all 
the world should hear him. In this 
struggle he continued about two 
hours, while Christians around him 
whispered in his ears the precious 
promises of God. Suddenly he was 
enabled to say, from a full heart : 

" But drops of grief can ne'er repay 

The debt of love I owe ; 
Here, Lord, I give myself away — 

'Tis all that I can do." 

He now felt that he could give up 
all for Christ, and believe on him 
with all his heart. And O what a 
change now came over him ! His 
load of sin was all gone, and he felt 



42 BACKWOODS BOY. 



light enough to "run through a 
troop, or leap over a wall." His 
soul, that was all darkness before, 
was full of light. His sorrow was 
changed into joy and peace. He 
rose to his feet and praised God 
aloud. It seemed as if God had 
given him a new tongue as well as 
a new heart. He could now speak 
as never before. 

When the camp-meeting was ended 
he returned with his now happy 
parents and cousins, and soon united 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church 
on probation. He had now taken 
an important stand. Like young 
Hannibal, who swore eternal enmity 
against the Romans, Henry vowed 
eternal opposition to Satan's king- 
dom. 

But he had a road to travel which 



KEMOVAL TO THE WEST. 43 

was full of snares, and many enemies 
to meet and conquer. Would lie 
hold out faithful? was the question. 
Some said, "No ; he is but a boy, and 
don't know what he is about. It 
won't last long. He will soon be 
like the other boys." 

Such predictions were not any help 
to Henry ; they tended to dampen 
the ardor of his soul; but he felt 
that " He that was for him was more 
than all that were against him." 
Though his inexperienced feet often 
stumbled, he was mercifully preserved 
from wholly departing from his God. 



44 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



CHAPTEK IE. 

FAMILY INCIDENTS. 

Me. Adolph had spent about a 
year and a half at his new home, dur- 
ing which several acres of land had 
been cleared, fenced, and put under 
cultivation. The climate, and other 
causes combined, tended greatly to 
improve his health ; a great blessing, 
as his large family were dependent 
upon the labor of his hands for a sub- 
sistence. 

But he had scarcely begun to feel 
at home here before he was compelled 
to leave, because Mr. Otis married, 
and desired to occupy the place him- 
self. It was a trial to think of com- 
mencing again in the woods. About 



FAMILY INCIDENTS. 



45 



half a mile distant was a farm, that 
suited Mr. Adolph very well, and 
which he purchased, with the expect- 
ation of spending his last days upon it. 
To enable him to make payment he 
sold part of the farm, there being more 
land than he wished to cultivate ; 
what was due him at Red Valley, 
when received, would pay the bal- 
ance. 

Here, as at the former place, the 
sturdy forest-trees must be felled ; a 
house must be built, and all other 
needful improvements made. The 
house was built of hewed logs, with 
a large chimney and fire-place in one 
end. It was situated on a beautiful 
hillock, at the foot of which came 
bursting from the bank, and bubbling 
up from the bottom, a large living 
spring. It was a mineral spring, and 



46 BACKWOODS BOY. 



besides its convenience, it was pro- 
verbially healthful. 

In the early part of the winter Mr. 
Aclolph took possession of his new 
house, while yet in an unfinished state. 
Had he not learned to "hope on and 
hope ever, 7 ' he would have done but 
little here after having his plans so 
often frustrated. But he used often 
to say, " We will try to do our duty, 
and leave the event with the Lord." 

During the family residence at this 
place Henry's youngest sister was 
born. There were now six children, 
four boys and two girls. 

While living in the vicinity of Lime 
Spring Henry's schooling did not 
amount to much. It generally con- 
sisted of two or three months each 
winter. Besides having to walk from 
one to two miles, he was subject to 



FAMILY INCIDENTS. 47 



many interruptions. There was no 
Sabbath school. Religious meetings 
were held by the circuit preacher, 
who came round once in two weeks 
and preached on a week-day. On 
Sabbath there was usually prayer 
and class meeting in a private house, 
unless some exhorter or local preacher 
made an appointment. 

Here Henry became deeply inter- 
ested in reading Bunyan's Pilgrim's 
Progress. In this, to him, wonderful 
book everything appeared like real- 
ity. It so influenced his imagination 
that, when asleep, he would often 
dream of being a pilgrim, and of trav- 
eling the whole road from the City of 
Destruction to the Celestial City, facing 
all the dangers and surmounting the 
obstacles in the way. 

While Henry attended school in an 



48 BACKWOODS BOY. 



adjoining neighborhood, he was sub- 
jected to trials that he had not be- 
fore known. His schoolmates tried 
to make sport and derision of him, 
because he was a church member. 
They raised false reports about him, 
and tried to insult him and lead him 
into open sin. And although he was 
not always so watchful and prayerful 
as he should have been, the Lord gra- 
ciously preserved him from casting 
away his confidence in his Saviour. 
The Church also kindly bore with 
him, and nursed him in her bo- 
som. 

An incident may here be related 
to show the influences by which Henry 
was surrounded. It was customary 
in those days to have " training" as 
it was called. The boys thought that 
they had as good right to train as 



FA3IILY INCIDENCES. 49 



the men. Hence each boy had a 
wooden gun made with a snap, and a 
cockade made of the fine feathers of 
geese to wear on his hat. Thus 
uniformed, when muster day came, 
the boys, with their little captain and 
officers, went to march in the rear of 
the men. Of course Henry did not 
think there was any harm in this, as 
the captain of the men was a Meth- 
odist class-leader. His mother had 
expressed her fears ; but he was so 
anxious to go that she gave consent. 
They marched most of the day to the 
music of the drum and fife. The heat 
was very oppressive, and it was very 
wearisome. When evening came all 
were glad to go home; but before 
the soldiers, big and little, could be 
dismissed, the class-leader captain 
must treat them. 



50 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



Very little was then said about 
temperance, and it was thought no 
harm for any one to take a dram, if 
he did not drink enough to make him 
drunk. The captain had provided a 
large stone jug, filled with whisky. 
The company were then formed in a 
line, on the bank of a large stream, 
the men first and then the boys. The 
jug was passed from one to another, 
each turning it up and drinking all 
he desired. Henry, to be as manly 
as the rest, raised the jug to his 
mouth ; but it was so heavy, that he 
got more than his portion, and it 
made him quite dizzy-headed, so that 
he could hardly walk straight. If we 
should now see a person stagger as 
he then did, we would call him drunk. 
But he did not fall down, and was 
able to walk home, a distance of about 



FAMILY ETCIDEiN-TS. 51 



two miles. But this was the last of 
Henry's training until the law made 
it his duty. 

What took place at the training 
was common at corn-huskings, log- 
rollings, raisings, and in harvest. The 
people thought they must have whisky 
to make them strong and active. But 
the temperance reform has brought 
about a better state of things. 

Mr. Otis's father had lately died in 
the East, and he went back to bring 
his aged mother to the West. He 
was authorized by Mr. Adolph to re- 
ceive his dues in Red Valley, and 
bring them to him. But how disap- 
pointed was Mr. Otis to find that an 
intriguing man had fraudulently got- 
ten the money into his own hands, 
and Mr. Adolph's claim was protested. 

It was easy to foresee that this 



52 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



would be a heavy calamity on Mr. 
Adolph and his family. The little 
means on which he relied to pay for 
his home was all swept away at a 
stroke ; and he had nothing with 
which to pay the account which Mr. 
Otis held against him. of about three 
hundred and fifty dollars, which was 
to be paid out of the money here due. 

We may easier imagine than de- 
scribe the feelings of Mr. and Mrs. 
Adolph on the return of Mr. Otis, 
when they learned the sad result. 
Till then Mr. Adolph. in all his ad- 
versities, had kept up good courage, 
and the hope of something better to 
come seemed to cheer him on. But 
this sad news affected him to tears, 
while he exclaimed. " They might as 
well have taken the bread out of my 
children's mouths ! ?? 



FAMILY LN'CLDEXTS. 



53 



Too true, alas ! but what did they 
who profited by such dishonesty care 
for all this I The grief of Henry's 
mother was also very great. Mr. Otis 
sympathized with his afflicted sister 
and her husband, and, with the large 
and generous heart of a brother, he 
handed her the note he held against 
Mr. Adolph, and said, "Here, take 
this, and do what you please with it." 

It is hard, to find a parallel to this 
act of o-enerositv. If those who have 

O *J 

it in their power thus to lighten the 
burden of their afflicted friends, 
would do so, how many would rise 
up to call them blessed ! 

One thing was now certain, that Mr. 
Adolph must give up his farm. He 
had no earthly prospect of securing 
means to pay for it, and, painful as 
was the thought, he must look else- 



54 BACKWOODS BOY. 



where to gain bread for his family. 
During all these changes he became 
more and more impressed with the 
truth that " here we have no continu- 
ing city." But while he dwelt as a 
stranger and pilgrim, a little while in 
a place, he strove to seek " a city 
whose builder and maker is God." 
And while unjustly stripped of his 
earthly possessions, it was joyful to 
think that in heaven he had " a better 
and enduring substance." 

Mr. Adolph now rented a farm 
about six miles distant, near the 
village of Goburg. The farm was 
good, but buildings and fences had 
become much impared. The rent 
was to be paid in making improve- 
ments. He removed to this place in 
the fall of 1827. 

In Coburg there was circuit preach- 



FAMILY ES T CIDE^TS. 



ing on the Sabbath once a fortnight. 
Henry and his parents united with 
the society here, and here he re- 
ceived the first love-feast ticket he 
ever saw. It was sent to him by the 
preacher, and read, "Let not your 
good be evil spoken of." Henry did 
not know what this meant ; he sup- 
posed that it was designed as a re- 
proof for something that he had 
done amiss, until he was told that it 
was usual to have a verse of Scrip- 
ture on all the love-feast tickets. 

Henry went to school part of that 
winter. The school-house was situ- 
ated a mile distant, entirely sur- 
rounded with woods. It was a cabin, 
built of round logs, with a stick 
chimney in one end. The windows 
were made by having a log cut out 
of the wall on three sides. The 



56 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



sash consisted of flattened sticks, 
placed a few inches apart, between 
the logs, and oiled paper was fastened 
in those homely windows instead of 
glass. The house was covered with 
clap-boards, and the floor made of 
puncheon. Such was the rude school- 
house in which Henry and his 
brothers strove to acquire some ru- 
diments of an education. 

The winter passed rapidly away. 
Early in February Mr. Adolph and 
his boys began to prepare for sugar- 
making, and things were soon got in 
readiness to improve the season w hen 
it should come on. But, as the event 
proved, Mr. Adolph's work was 
about ended. He began to complain 
of pain in his side and shortness of 
breath. Soon he was confined en- 
tirely to the house, and suffered most 




PR AYE R- MEETING IN MR ADOLPH'S ROOM. 



FAMILY INCIDENTS. 



59 



excruciating pain for a long time, 
from the dropsy. For about three 
weeks he could not lie down, day 
or night, but sat in an arm-chair, 
gasping for breath, often with door 
and windows open, though the wea- 
ther was cold. Medical skill proved 
ineffectual. But his sick room was a 
place of prayer and praise. Several 
prayer-meetings were held about his 
bed. At first temptation came in 
upon him like a flood, but by faith 
he was enabled gloriously to tri- 
umph. 

Two or three days before he 
passed from earth he inquired of the 
doctor, " What do you think about 
me, doctor 2" 

" I had always hope till now ; but 
I think you will go now," replied 
the physician. 



60 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



" Thank God !" exclaimed the sick 
man, " my suffering time will soon be 
over ! Glory ! O glorious liope of im- 
mortality and eternal life ! O bright 
prospect! It shines brighter and 
brighter ! The crown is just before 
me !" 

He called all his relatives and 
friends around his dying couch, and 
bade them an affectionate farewell. 
He addressed his wife in most en- 
dearing and touching strains. He 
regretted to leave her so poorly 
provided for, but he left her in the 
hands of God, who would, he was 
sure, take care of her. To Henry 
he said : 

" My dear child, you have set out 
young to serve the Lord. How 
many sins will you escape if you are 
faithful. Take your little brothers 



FAMILY INCIDENTS. 



61 



by the hand, and help them in the 
way to heaven ; and what a blessing 
will it be if I meet you all in 
heaven !" 

He told his friends not to weep, 
but to rejoice. Said he, "O, it is a 
time of rejoicing ! Shall I be counted 
worthy to walk the golden streets of 
the New Jerusalem, and drink of that 
fountain which makes glad the city 
of God ? O yes, it is for me !" 

Among his last utterances were, 
" Victory, victory !" And all this he 
claimed through the blood of the 
Lamb. On the 15th of May, 1828, 
just as the glorious sun was arising 
to enlighten the earth, calmly and 
peacefully the spirit of Mr. Adolph, 
redeemed and saved, took its flight 
to brighter realms of bliss and glory. 
Happy soul, thy toils, disappoint- 



62 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



ments and sufferings are now forever 
ended ! 

While Henry's mother was weighed 
down with afflictions and sorrows at- 
home, her grief was increased by 
news which reached her from abroad. 
Two or three days after the death of 
her husband, she received intelligence 
of the death of a dear sister, who 
had lived about ninety miles distant, 
leaving behind a sorrowing com- 
panion and three children. In those 
hours of grief and loneliness she had 
one living and unfailing friend : that 
friend was Jesus. She could lean on 
Him who had promised to be a father 
to the fatherless, and a husband to 
the widow, and who had said, U I 
will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" 

The death of Henry's father was 
overruled by Divine Providence for 



FAMILY INCIDENTS. 



63 



his spiritual good. He was convinced 
that he had not been as faithful and 
exemplary as he should have been. 
He renewed his covenant with God. 
Often he was wonderfully blessed 
when he prayed to God in secret ; and 
from this time he began to bear his 
cross more openly, and to take part 
in prayer-meetings and other meet- 
ings for social worship. 

He was now fourteen years of age, 
and being the eldest son, much care 
and responsibility devolved on him 
in the management of business. With 
the aid of his younger brothers he 
cultivated fourteen acres of corn that 
summer, besides the garden. In the 
fall it was harvested and taken to 
market, and the proceeds disposed of 
to pay doctor's bills, store debts, etc. 
The loose property was sold at pub- 



64 



BACKWOODS EOT. 



lie sale the close of the following 
winter, and when all matters were 
adjusted, Mrs. Adolph had little left 
with which to provide for her six 
children. 

Her deceased sister's husband, 
whose residence was at Xewstead, 
had invited her to come and take 
shelter under his roof, and assist him 
in keeping his family together. With 
this invitation she gladly complied. 
Early in the spring, while the ground 
was yet frozen, she set out with her 
family for her new home, which was 
situated some ninety miles to the 
north-west, in a county that was 
new, abounding with game, and still 
the home of many Indians. Xew- 
stead was a small county town, yet 
in its infancy. A few wearisome 
days ended this journey, and Mrs, 



FAMILY INCIDENTS. 65 



Adolph was thankful to find a place 
that she could call home, for herself 
and family. 

As Henry, shortly after this, left 
the maternal abode, little will be said 
about his esteemed and precious 
mother in the further thread of our 
narrative. But I may here add, for 
the information of the reader, that 
after a ripe age of nearly seventy 
years, and a religious experience of 
more than forty years, Mrs. Adolph 
died a most calm, yet triumphant 
death, in the embrace of her Divine 
Saviour. 



66 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE APPRENTICESHIP. 

After Mrs. Adolph became fairly- 
settled in Newstead, she deemed it 
best for lier family to put out the 
boys to learn trades. Henry made 
choice of the saddler's trade. He 
soon formed an acquaintance with 
Mr. Sears, who had recently opened 
a shop in the place, and who was as 
anxious to have an apprentice as 
Henry was willing to become one. 
But he must have a boy to suit him 
or none, and Mrs. Sears was, if pos- 
sible, more difficult to please than 
himself. So he must take Henry 
awhile on trial. 

Mr. Sears was a man who was 



THE APPRENTICESHIP. 67 

respected in the community, a shrewd 
financier, but honest in his dealings. 
He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and his house 
was often a home for the travel- 
ing preachers. Mrs. Sears was a 
professing Christian ; not then a 
Methodist, but very correct in her 
deportment, and one of the neatest 
and best of housekeepers, even ex- 
celling her husband in rigid economy. 
As might be supposed, Henry did 
not find everything exactly to his 
liking ; but despite some inconveni- 
ences, he had secured a good home 
under the roof of Mr. Sears, and 
never regretted the time he there 
devoted to his trade. 

The five trial weeks soon expired, 
when the time came, to use Mr. S.'s 
expression, to put on the u grabbing 



68 BACKWOODS BOY. 

irons," that is, to make a firm and 
binding contract by an indenture or 
writing. Henry was now just fifteen 
years of age. The parties seemed 
to be well suited on both sides. There 
was but one thing in the way of 
closing the bargain. Henry's mother 
insisted that her son should serve 
but five years ; Mr. Sears insisted on 
a term of six years, and neither party 
would yield in this matter. So, to 
the great grief of Henry, his mother 
took him home. But in two or three 
days Mr. Sears came to Mrs. Adolph's 
terms, and Henry was bound out for 
five years. He has ever since looked 
upon this little incident as a direct 
interposition of Divine Providence, 
in saving to him a year from an oc- 
cupation he was not called to follow 
in after life. And many times has he 



THE APPKEKTICESHIP. 69 

thanked the Lord in his heart for 
this tender solicitude of his mother. 

The leading items of the agreement 
are told in few words. Henry was 
on his part to be an obedient and 
faithful boy, in the line of his duty, 
to the end of the five years. Mr. 
Sears, on his part, was to see that he 
was comfortably and decently clad 
and properly cared for under his roof ; 
he was to make him master of his 
trade; to allow him one week every 
harvest to go out and work for him- 
self ; to give him three months school- 
ing in the early part of the term, and 
three months near the close; and, 
finally, he was to provide Henry with 
a good freedom suit when his time 
ended. All things thus arranged and 
made as sure as pen and ink could 
make them, Henry eagerly addressed 



70 BACKWOODS BOY. 



himself to his task, determined to mas- 
ter his business, and to acquit himself 
honorably. 

Henry had never lived in a town, 
and if there were temptations to which 
he had been a stranger, there were 
also advantages which he had never 
before enjoyed. He carefully avoided 
the company of bad boys, and strove 
to make the best use of his new oppor- 
tunities. 

The Methodists had recently erected 
a small brick church in Newstead, 
which was finished off the following 
winter. Here there was Methodist 
preaching twice a day. every fortnight, 
on the Sabbath. On the alternate 
Sabbath the Presbyterian minister 
occupied the house. There was class- 
meeting once a week, and prayer- 
meeting every Wednesday evening. 



THE APPRENTICESHIP. 71 



The week-evening meetings Henry 
could not always attend, as it was the 
rule to work every night, except Sat- 
urday, until nine o'clock, from the 
20th of September till the 20th of 
March. 

Though the place was new, the cir- 
cuit was one of the first, if not the 
first, in that region, and was generally 
supplied by experienced, and some- 
times talented preachers. Henry 
strove to benefit by the counsel and 
instruction of those men of God. He 
was uniformly on terms of intimacy 
with them. 

It would be too tedious to speak 
of all those ministers particularly, but 
there was one to whom Henry was 
so much indebted for deep and lasting 
religious impressions, that a more 
extended notice of him than will be 



72 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



devoted to others, may not be amiss. 
Rev. Mr. Winslow, the presiding elder, 
was a man full of faith and of the 
Holy Spirit, and drew great crowds 
after him wherever he went. He was 
a plain, unassuming man, but pos- 
sessed wonderful power over his hear- 
ers. If the manner of Mr. "Winslow 
could have been looked at, apart from 
the burning truths he uttered, he 
would have appeared awkward ; but 
his hearers soon lost sight of his 
manner, and were absorbed in what 
he said. As he entered into the 
merits of his subject, it seemed as if 
the mighty thoughts which were 
struggling within, and which he would 
pour forth like a torrent, would tear 
his body to pieces. The whole man, 
soul and body, seemed to work in- 
tensely. He appeared to preach every 



THE APPRENTICESHIP. 73 

time as if lie thought he never should 
preach again, or as if some soul would 
be lost if he did not put forth all his 
strength. At the same time the big 
sweat-drops would trickle down the 
locks which hung carelessly over his 
neck and shoulders. Often, for two 
or three hours at a time, he would 
hold the dense crowds which flocked 
to hear him, spell-bound. The infidel 
and the Universalist would have all 
the props knocked out from under 
them. The knees of hardened sin- 
ners would fairly smite together. One 
after another in the congregation 
would arise to his feet, and begin to 
gather up around the stand, if at 
camp-meeting, with mouth open as if 
feeding upon manna, till all the con- 
gregation were standing around him. 
In two or three instances, it is said 

5 



74 BACKWOODS BOY. 

of Mm that, by a single burst of his 
eloquence, his whole audience have 
been instantly raised to their feet, as 
if electrified. Under the power of 
his preaching many would be smitten 
to the ground, and cries of distress 
and shouts of deliverance would be 
heard in every direction. "While he 
preached, this world and all in it 
looked like an empty bubble, lighter 
than vanity. The soul, the cross of 
Calvary, the judgment-day, heaven, 
hell, eternity ; these were themes 
which occupied the mind. And while 
his sermons were suited to the loftiest 
minds, they were brought down to 
the comprehension of children. No 
sermons could Henry remember like 
those of Mr. Winslow's. Often did 
he walk several miles to hear him, 
and always felt well paid for so doing. 



THE APPKENTICESHIP. Y 5 

Mr. Winslow ordered on a quantity 
of Sunday-school books, aud a Sunday 
school was commenced in the place, 
which Henry attended, first as scholar 
and afterward as teacher. In this 
school he committed to memory the 
Lord's sermon on the mount, and 
many other portions of Scripture, 
which proved a lasting benefit to 
him. 

He purchased a neat pocket Bible, 
and paid for it in whip-lashes, which 
he made after he had ended his day's 
work — a privilege not often granted 
him. He also purchased Brown's 
Concordance and Alexander's Bible 
Dictionary, from which he derived 
much help in the study of God's 
word. When he found difficult pas- 
sages, he went to an uncle's near at 
hand, and consulted Dr. Adam Clarke's 



76 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



Commentary, usually at some conve- 
nient hour on the Sabbath. 

When Henry first went to Newstead 
he was the only boy in the place who 
professed religion ; but after some 
time had elapsed, there were two or 
three others to unite with him. At 
the suggestion of the minister who 
lived in the place, a " young men's 
prayer-meeting" was commenced, to 
be held once a week, on Saturday 
evening. The first meeting was held 
in a hatter's loft, and was attended 
by four or five apprentices. This 
was a place for dressing furs, not a 
very choice spot ; but God met with 
his young disciples here, as he did 
with the Methodists in the " Rigging 
loft " in New-York. They were soon 
invited to hold their meetings at 
private houses, and although they 




BOYS' PRATER- MEETING. 



THE APPKE3TICESHIP. 79 



were conducted by young men, others 
were allowed to attend, and so many 
became interested in them, that the 
room was often filled. The duty of 
leading generally devolved on Henry. 
By this means he was strangely led 
in a way that he knew not, and was 
often blessed in those early attempts 
to bear the cross. 

As time passed along a very de- 
voted minister came upon the circuit, 
who formed some of the apprentices 
into a band society, and appointed 
Henry leader. The band met every 
Sunday morning, at five o'clock, 
winter and summer. Those early 
Sabbath meetings were searching and 
profitable seasons, and were a good 
preparation for the more public wor- 
ship of God during the day. By 
pursuing this course, those young men 



80 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



had many crosses and some reproach 
that they might have avoided; but 
it was reproach for Christ's sake, and 
they went on their way rejoicing. 

The diligent manner in which 
Henry was required to apply himself 
to his trade left him little time for 
reading or study, except what he 
could gain by sitting up late, or rising 
very early; the last was his usual 
course. For this he furnished his 
own lights. He had a drawer under 
his bench where he kept his books. 
Among the works which he read, 
greatly to his spiritual profit, were the 
Christian's Manual, the Memoir of 
Hester Ann Rogers, Wesley's Sermons, 
and several other devotional books. 
The Bible was his constant companion, 
which he often read prayerfully upon 
his knees. But no book, besides the 



THE APPRENTICESHIP. 



81 



Bible, was so blessed to him as Bax- 
ter's Saints' Rest. He sometimes rose 
as early as two or tkree o'clock in the 
morning, and read that book with 
tears of joy over the encouraging 
prospect of one day gaining u the 
saints' everlasting rest." 

As time passed along his mind 
became much exercised respecting 
higher attainments in his religious 
life. His soul seemed to cry out, 

" 'Tis worse than death my God to love, 
And not my God alone." 

And being fully persuaded that a 
holy life is only to be obtained by a 
faithful use of means of God's own 
appointment, he strove to use all the 
means of grace and thus to look for 
God's blessing. Among other duties 
he often sought God by fasting and 



Si 



BaCZV.jODS boy. 



prayer. For a long time he observ- 
ed every Friday as a stated rule : 
sometimes eating and drinking noth- 
ing from Thursday evening until 
Friday evening, and at other times 
simply eating no breakfast. He 
probably carried this abstemious- 
ness to excess, at times, and thereby 
injured his health. But the many 
hallowed hours of deep and heaven- 
ly communion with God. seemed to 
make up for loss of earthly comfoi-ts. 

During the last two years of his 
apprenticeship he was sorely afflicted 
by pain in his side and chest ; a re- 
sult of close confinement at his trade. 
It followed him for several years, 
with little abatement, and was often 
a source of much suffering, though he 
was never wholly disabled by it. But 
his term of service at length closed, 



THE APPKE]N T TICESHIP. 83 



and lie was happy to take up his 
indenture creditably to himself, and 
with the best feelings and wishes of 
Mr. and Mrs. Sears. 



84 BACKWOODS BOY. 



CHAPTER V. 

CONVICTIONS OF DUTY, AND EFFORTS 
TO BE USEFUL. 

During the period of which the 
last chapter forms a partial record, 
Henry's mind became strangely exer- 
cised respecting the spiritual welfare 
of those around him, especially of 
his fellow apprentices. A still small 
voice seemed to urge him to a more 
open and public cross-bearing life. 
What this would lead to he could 
not tell. He did not dare to think 
it a call to preach the Gospel, His 
natural diffidence shrunk from any 
such undertaking. Often in the 
prayer-meeting, as well as in the re- 
tirement of the closet, his whole soul 



CONVICTIONS OF DUTY. 85 

seemed to go out in longing desire 
for the unconverted. And those ex- 
ercises of mind were not unobserved 
by others. One day while Henry 
was working at his trade, one of the 
circuit preachers came up to him and 
said, "You must preach or be 
damned." 

This Henry thought to be harsh 
language. But he left his case in the 
hands of Him who knew what was 
best for him, unwilling to commit 
himself to a work of this kind, 
without the clearest evidence that 
God had called him. 

His mind was especially drawn 
out in behalf of a physician in New- 
stead, a relative, who was skeptical 
in his religious views. Henry often 
made him a subject of earnest 
prayer. But it seemed to him that 



86 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



he must do something more ; and 
under the promptings of duty, he 
wrote him a very plain letter, re- 
minding him of his talents and posi- 
tion in society, and urging the claims 
of God upon him. Henry was not 
apprised of the immediate effect of 
this letter upon the doctor's mind. 
But it may simply be stated as a fact, 
that some years after this, during a 
gracious revival in Newstead, the 
doctor was among the subjects of 
converting grace. His change was 
a very marked one. And then, while 
he ministered to the bodies of the 
sick and dying, he took special pains 
to minister to their souls, and in 
some instances was instrumental in 
the conversion of his suffering pa- 
tients. 

The church, of which Henry had 



costvictiosts or duty. 87 

charge as sexton, was retired from 
the business part of town, situated 
on the bank of the river. This he 
often visited, with some other young 
men, on pleasant summer evenings, 
as a sacred retreat where they could 
worship God unmolested. And often, 
after having finished their day's work, 
they went to the grove, lit up by the 
pale moon or the twinkling stars. 

One evening there was present 
with them in the church an appren- 
tice to a cabinet-maker, whom they 
had persuaded to seek religion. We 
will call his name Silas. During the 
devotions Silas' convictions of sin be- 
came very deep and pungent, and he 
cried to God earnestly for mercy. 
God was present to bless. While 
those young men united in singing 
the hymn called " Wrestling Jacob," 



88 BACKWOODS BOY. 



the burden of Silas was removed, and 
lie went home rejoicing. He has 
since become a preacher of the Gos- 
pel, and has been extensively useful. 

One Sabbath, in the interval of 
public worship, Henry and Silas went 
out into the woods, as they often did, 
to pray. They were both wonderful- 
ly blessed, in thus waiting upon God. 
Rising from their knees, Henry ad- 
dressed Silas, in substance : "We have 
proved how good religion is our- 
selves, and we ought to try to per- 
suade others to go along with us. 
Now you choose one, and I will choose 
one, and we will each talk with the 
person selected, and try to lead him 
to Christ. To this Silas agreed. He 
chose a youth whom we will call 
Robert. Henry's mind fixed upon 
one we will call Jonas. The last 



CO^^CTIOXS OF DUTY. 89 

named was about eighteen years of 
age, rude and wicked. 

That same evening, as Henry was 
passing along the street, he provi- 
dentially, as he thought, met Jonas. 
They saluted each other ; after which 
Jonas asked Henry if there would be 
meeting that evening. Henry replied 
that there would, and as it was draw- 
ing near the time, invited Jonas to 
accompany him to the church. To 
this he consented, and locking arms 
they walked down to the river, and 
sat down on the green grass, near 
the church, during which the follow- 
ing conversation took place between 
them : 

Henry said: " Jonas, do you not 
think it high time for you to com- 
mence in the service of the Lord ?" 

He replied, "I do;" at the same 



90 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



time relating an awful dream that he 
had dreamed the night before. 

If my memory is not at fault, this 
dream related to the second coming 
of Christ, and the scenes of the last 
judgment; but the particulars have 
escaped my recollection. 

Here they talked freely together 
on the important subject of salyation. 

After the public meeting, the 
young men tarried awhile, and pray- 
ed with Jonas ; but he did not find 
relief that night. They agreed to 
meet the next night and go to the 
woods for the same purpose. The 
next eyening they met, according to 
promise, went to the woods, and had 
a season of wrestling prayer. Jonas 
was not conyerted that night, but 
soon after found the Saviour, and 
became a worthy member of the 



CONVICTIONS OF DUTY. 91 

Church. "While these youths were 
praying they made more noise than 
they were aware of, and the sound 
was carried on the evening breeze to 
town, and about a dozen persons 
came out to see what was the matter. 
They came nearly up to the boys, 
and stopped without disturbing them. 
As they rose from their knees they 
saw the men; but God made their 
faces like flint. Meeting the com- 
pany, a gentleman said : 

"Why, what in the world is the 
matter? We thought some person 
was in deep distress !" 

M There was," replied Henry. 

He said again : u You almost alarm- 
ed the town." 

Henry answered : " Would to God 

we could have alarmed them out of 

their sins." The man said no more. 
6 



92 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



Robert was also persuaded to seek 
religion; but lie did not long con- 
tinue. His goodness was "like the 
morning cloud and the early dew, 
which goeth away." 

A very interesting incident occur- 
red about this time in the church. 
It was on a Sabbath evening. A 
large number of persons came out to 
prayer-meeting, but no one was pres- 
ent accustomed to lead them. A 
young man who had lately come to 
town — a member of the Church, but 
who did not identify himself with 
the movement among the apprentices 
— was present. Henry went to him 
aud requested him to take the lead 
of the meeting, intimating that it 
would not do to let the people go 
away without prayer. But he scorn- 
fully replied, "We have no right to 



COJN^ICTIO^S OF DUTY. 93 



hold meeting." He then arose, sung 
the doxology, and dismissed the con- 
gregation ! He afterward left the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
united with another Church. 

As soon as the people were dis- 
missed Henry invited the young 
men to tarry for prayer. He opened 
the meeting, and then gave an ex- 
hortation to such as desired religion, 
to come and kneel at the " mourners' 
bench," as it was called. 

Several came, and among them a 
young man who had been a ring- 
leader in the ranks of sin. The wea- 
ther was warm, and the windows 
were open, so that the noise of the 
meeting was heard in town, and a 
number of persons came and looked 
on with astonishment, but made no 
disturbance. In his deep agony the 



94 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



young man fell upon the floor, and 
seemed as if lie would almost die in 
the struggle. But in a short time 
his captive soul was set at liberty, 
and he walked the house, praising 
God, and continued to praise him all 
the way home. He afterwards be- 
came a worthy member of the church. 

In the mean time Mr. Sears had 
taken another apprentice, whom we 
will call Jason. He was a bright 
youth of fifteen, but a great mimic, 
and delighted to make sport of 
Henry's religious course. Especially 
on his fast day would he try every 
way to annoy and irritate him. He 
appeared at times almost like the 
evil spirit that troubled Saul. Af- 
ter bearing for months this sore 
trial, Henry was greatly rejoiced to 
see Jason happily converted, the next 



COISTICTIOIS'S OF DUTY. 95 



summer, at a camp-meeting. Jason 
afterward became a worthy traveling 
minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Some years after this he 
thus wrote to Henry : 

"Dear friend and brother in the 
Lord : With you I have spent many 
happy seasons ; with you I spent the 
most critical part of my life — the 
time that I was prone to all evil in 
the slippery paths of youth. ... It 
pleased God to make you one of the 
instruments of my sound conversion 
to the faith of Christ ; a poor, fickle, 
unstable, and froward boy, brought, 
by the power of God, to see himself, 
and made to rejoice in his love." 

Among others it was Henry's joy 
to see his brothers, one after another, 
made savingly acquainted with the 
Lord. 



96 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



Eev. Mr. Goodman, the preacher in 
charge at this time, seemed to under- 
stand Henry's case better than any 
one else, and occasionally took him to 
out appointments, and had him ex- 
hort and lead class. Indeed he gave 
him verbal license to exhort. A brief 
notice of one of those early efforts 
may not be out of place here. 

One Sabbath afternoon Mr. Good- 
man had an appointment in an ad- 
joining village, and took Henry with 
him. He preached a sermon about 
twenty minutes long, and then called 
on Henry to exhort. The house was 
crowded, and there were present many 
of the gay, fashionable, and irreligious 
men and women of the place. He 
arose with trembling ; the cross had 
never before seemed so heavy. A 
silent prayer ascended from his heart, 



COISVICTIO^S OF DUTY 97 



that God would take away the fear 
of man, and help him to bear witness 
to the truth. As he arose he com- 
menced to sing : 

" Young people all, attention give 
While I address you in God's name : 

Ye who in sin and folly live, 
Come hear the counsel of a friend," etc. 

The hymn had a very subduing 
effect on the audience, and also pre- 
pared Henry's mind for an exhorta- 
tion. He was known to most present 
as an apprentice boy, but they had 
not heard him attempt to speak in 
public. All of course were attentive 
to hear what the youth would say. 
Grod blessed him at that time with 
great freedom of utterance. Tears 
flowed freely down his cheeks, and a 
Divine influence seemed strangely to 
move on the hearts of the assembly, 



98 BACKWOODS BOY. 



while lie interwove with his exhorta- 
tion his own religious experience, and 
related the triumphant death of his 
dear departed father. It was by such 
experiments, accompanied with the 
Divine blessing, that God impressed 
upon his mind that he had a more 
important work for him to do than 
to make saddles. 

The following spring, just about 
the time Henry's apprenticeship ex- 
pired, the minister who had followed 
Mr. Goodman, without any solicitation 
on the part of Henry, presented him 
with a written license to exhort. He 
was now just twenty years of age. 

Before Henry took leave of Mr. 
Sears, he was provided with a com- 
fortable and decent, though not costly 
freedom suit. This he felt it his duty 
to have made plain. His coat was 



COKYICTTOIS'S OF DUTY. 99 



cut in the fashion of a dress-coat, 
single-breasted; an overcoat, which 
his mother bought for him, was also 
made plain. His hat, to be orthodox, 
must be white, and have a wide brim. 
He had cherished an exceeding dis- 
like to gay clothing and the mere 
tinselry of fashion. The plainness of 
those able and devout ministers he 
most esteemed, such as Rev. Mr. 
Winslow and others, was his example. 
He also agreed with the venerable 
Wesley on this subject. He may 
'at that time have attached too much 
importance to the particular shape of 
the coat, or the size of the hat brim. 
But if he erred it was on the safe 
side ; and he has never for a moment 
regretted the bold stand that he then 
took. 



100 BACKWOODS BOY. 



CHAPTER VI. 

ACQUIRING ABT EDUCATION. 



In what lias been already said it 
is seen that Henry Ado]ph's early ad- 
vantages for study were quite limited. 
And during his apprenticeship, the 
six months' schooling, being received 
at the beginning and end of his term 
of service, was not so beneficial to 
him as if it could have come nearer 
together. As it was, he made the 
best of it till his time was at his own 
disposal. He now made up his mind 
to attend a literary institution at 
Pleasant Arbor, under the direction 
of a learned and venerable man, a 
graduate of Yale College. This was 



ACQUIBI1TO AN EDUCATION. 101 

some thirty-four miles distant from 
ISTewstead. 

But as Henry had been long con- 
fined to the shop, he proposed, before 
entering upon his course of study, to 
take a tour for the good of his health. 
He first made a neat portable valise 
for his wardrobe and books. With 
money, furnished by his mother, to 
buy some plain grave-stones to erect 
at his father's grave, and a little spend- 
ing money she had given him, he 
shouldered his valise and started on 
foot. He first went to Pleasant Ar- 
bor, and made arrangements to go to 
school. Thence, in another direction, 
he traveled about thirty miles more, 
and stopped eight or ten days with 
his old friend and pastor, Mr. Good- 
man, and assisted him in . his work on 
the circuit. These were pleasant and 



102 BACKWOODS BOY. 



profitable days. Thence lie traveled 
about seventy miles further, and vis- 
ited his old friends in the vicinity of 
Lime Spring, and held several meet- 
ings. Here the scenes of his child- 
hood were vividly brought to mind, 
and he found it good to be reminded 
of the watchful Providence that had 
guided his youthful steps. He re- 
turned again to JSfewstead, accom- 
panied by an uncle and his wife; 
spent a few days with his mother and 
friends, and then repaired to Pleasant 
Arbor, and entered upon his studies 
with determination. 

But he was without means to pay 
the expenses that would attend such 
a course. To meet these he worked 
mornings and evenings in a saddler's 
shop. And during a vacation of 
about five weeks, near the close of 



ACQUIRES^ ATT EDUCATION. 103 

summer, he thus earned about thirty 
dollars. He taught school also one 
quarter, while connected with the 
seminary, for which he was paid the 
large (?) sum of eleven dollars a 
month. Part of the time, while at 
the seminary, he united with several 
other young men who bought their 
provisions, did their own cooking, and 
lived very cheaply. 

His studies were mostly confined to 
the English branches, such as Gram- 
mar, Natural Philosophy, Rhetoric, 
and Logic ; but after a time Latin 
was added to his course, in which he 
made some proficiency. But his term 
at the institution, owing to the almost 
entire failure of his health, was a very 
brief one, and included only about a 
year, embracing three months spent 
in teaching. 



104 BACKWOODS BOY. 



But though, this period was a brief 
one, Henry learned several important 
lessons. 1. He began to see, as 
never before, how much there was 
to be known, and how little he knew. 

2. He began to learn how to learn. 
Here also began a process of mental 
discipline, to which he was before a 
stranger, and which was of great 
advantage to him when he was forced 
to study in smoky log-cabins, amid 
the confusion of large families, and 
the noise of crying children. And 

3. He had taken some important first 
lessons, which opened up the way to 
further attainment in the future. He 
felt it to be simply the entrance upon 
a life course of study and improve- 
ment. 

In Henry's efforts to acquire knowl- 
edge he had a specific object, which 



ACQUIRING AN EDUCATION. 105 

he endeavored never to lose sight 
of — this was a preparation for use- 
fulness in the Lord's vineyard, in 
which he now felt himself called to 
labor. And as his religious exercises 
and public exhortations all had a 
bearing on this object, a brief notice 
of them will be more in place here 
than anywhere else. 

Several pious young men were at 
the seminary, who, like himself, were 
looking forward to the ministry. The 
young men's prayer-meetings, which 
they held weekly, were times of great 
spiritual profit. And besides these, 
several band societies had been or- 
ganized, and were greatly blessed to 
the pious students. With regular 
preaching on the Sabbath, the weekly 
prayer-meeting and the class-meetings, 
there was no lack of religious privileges. 



106 BACKWOODS BOY. 



That hungering and thirsting for 
fall redemption in the blood of the 
Larab, which he had often felt be- 
fore, he still felt ; and often did he 
wrestle and agonize with God for the 
blessing. But he continued to be 
troubled with an unbelieving heart, 
which often hid the brightness of his 
Saviour's countenance. While here 
the language of his heart was : 

" I cannot rest till pure within — 
Till I am wholly lost in Thee/' 

For this he sought by prayer and 
fasting, and in the use of all the 
means of grace. One evening, at a 
young men's prayer-meeting, he was 
much drawn out in prayer for this 
blessing. A brother was present 
who made a profession of holiness, 
and noticed the struggle of Henry's 



ACQUIRING AN EDUCATION. 10 7 

mind. He went to liini at the close 
of the meeting, and said to him : 
" The blessing is for yon ; yon may 
have it this very night ; but yon 
mnst seek it by faith." He urged 
him not to rest longer without it. 

It was a clear moonlight night, 
and Henry determined to spend the 
night in prayer, but that he would 
obtain the blessing. Accompanied 
by two of his young friends, he went 
to a neighboring wood, and there, 
kneeling by the roots of a venerable 
tree, they prayed and wrestled till 
near the hour of midnight. The 
prayer of faith prevailed with God. 
These words were applied to Henry's 
mind, as if spoken by an audible 
voice: "He that believeth is sancti- 
fied already." He cried out, " Lord, 

I believe; help thou my unbelief !" 
7 



108 BACKWOODS BOY. 



Instantly an indescribable influence 
seemed to steal over him. Such a 
sweet peace — such a calm sinking 
out of self into God — such melting, 
overwhelming mercy as he had never 
felt before. It was 

" The speechless awe that dares not move, 
And all the silent heaven of love." 

He could no longer doubt. The 
earthen vessel was full and running 
over, and for several days he was so 
happy that he could scarcely refrain 
from praising God aloud in school. 

But now came a great cross, and 
that was to confess what God had 
done for him. The Thursday even- 
ing prayer-meeting came — a good 
time to all present. The lecture- 
room in the basement of the church 
was well filled. The principal, seve- 



ACQTJIEEN"Q- AN EDUCATION. 109 

ral other preachers, the preceptress, 
and many of the students, male and 
female, were present. Something 
whispered to Henry, " Now is the 
time to own your Saviour." The 
cross was heavy, and the enemy made 
a violent assault. But without wait- 
ing to confer with flesh and blood, 
at a suitable moment he rose trem- 
blingly, and in a subdued tone relat- 
ed what the Lord had done for him. 
It was all ne w and unexpected to the 
people ; and to professed Christians 
and the ministers it was like elec- 
tricity. Every Christian heart seem- 
ed like an electrical wire to conduct 
the divine influence to the next. 
Many sighed and prayed for a clean 
heart, and the influence of that meet- 
ing did not soon die away. 

During Henry's connection with 



110 BACKWOODS BOY. 



the seminary lie had regular appoint- 
ments, on Sabbath, within a distance 
of three or four miles, where he 
exhorted and held class-meetings. 
The students often went out two and 
two. Though these were but the 
efforts of beginners, the Lord often 
set the seal of his approbation on 
them, and they were mostly received 
with great kindness and forbearance 
on the part of the hearers. 

Thus passed this interesting portion 
of Henry's life, a period which had 
much to do, short as it was, with 
laying the foundation of his after 
ministerial life. 

A very pleasing reflection is here 
suggested. Twelve or fifteen of the 
young men who were in attendance 
on that institution, afterward became 
connected with the traveling ministry. 



i 



ACQUIKETO A1ST EDUCATION. Ill 

Several of them have occupied prom- 
inent posts in the Church, and have 
been the means of doing great good 
in advancing the Kedeemer's king- 
dom. 



112 BACKWOODS BOY. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE BOY PREACHER. 

The failure of Henry's health has 
before been alluded to. At the expi- 
ration of about a year after he first 
entered his name at the Pleasant 
Arbor Seminary, the winter term of 
the school closed. Quarterly meeting 
for the circuit was held about the 
same time. Here Henry received 
license to preach the Gospel. At this 
quarterly meeting he became acquaint- 
ed with the presiding elder of a 
neighboring district, who afterward 
employed him on a circuit. He first 
returned to Newstead to spend a few 
days with his mother, fully intending 
to return again to school. While 



THE BOY PEEACHEE. 113 



here, the presiding elder referred to 
met him again, and urged him to 
accompany him to a quarterly meet- 
ing, about thirty miles distant, in a 
very new and wild region of country. 
Henry yielded, and in much physical 
depression made the rough jaunt on 
horseback. Here the elder, Mr. Noise, 
urged him to go immediately into the 
traveling connection, as a chance for 
the restoration of his health. He 
desired to have him travel as junior 
preacher on a circuit about thirty-five 
miles further, through an almost 
unbroken wilderness, and which could 
only be reached by a rough trail, 
leading in many places through dis- 
mal swamps. 

After duly weighing the matter, 
Henry consented; and here parting 
with the elder, he returned to New* 



114 BACKWOODS BOY. 



stead, thence to Pleasant Arbor, where 

he settled his business, and went into 

a saddler's shop and made a pair of 

saddle-bags. He returned again to 

JSTewstead, and purchased a horse on 

credit, procured an outfit, and started 

for his circuit. On his way his horse 

became disabled, and he was obliged 

to exchange for another, for which he 

gave ten dollars boot. The horse he 

obtained in exchange was without 

shoes; he had yet thirty-five miles 

before him, and less than a dollar 

left, and he was going among entire 

strangers, in a strange land. But he 

determined to go, if he had to go 

afoot; and he did go, and reached 

his circuit, where the people received 

him with open arms, and provided 

for his wants. 

On his circuit were some twenty- 



THE BOY PREACHER. 115 

two preaching places, in a thickly 
wooded country of swamps, and un- 
bridled rivers and streams, which he 
had often to swim to reach his ap- 
pointments. It w r as also a time of 
great scarcity of food. Little wheat 
bread was to be seen ; corn was also 
very scarce, and what there was had 
been brought fifty or sixty miles, 
with ox teams, over almost impassi- 
ble roads. But deer were abundant, 
and there was also plenty of wild 
honey, and abundance of wild fruit. 
Here Henry labored, in connection 
with an honored colleague, for about 
three months, was treated with great 
kindness by the people, who paid 
him his full amount of quarterage, 
and made him presents to the amount 
of some twelve dollars. He had the 
.privilege of seeing souls converted to 



116 BACKWOODS BOY. 



God, as seals of his ministry. With 
his esteemed presiding elder, he at- 
tended three camp-meetings, one of 
which was on his own circuit. At 
this camp-meeting his case was 
brought before the Quarterly Con- 
ference, from which he was recom- 
mended to the Annual Conference, 
as a suitable person to be received 
into the traveling connection. Much 
improved in health, Henry returned 
to spend the interval of conference 
with his friends at itfewstead, and to 
await the order of Providence in his 
case. 

To obtain an idea of this youthful 
preacher, the reader may imagine a 
slim, delicate-looking young man, of 
about five feet eight inches in height, 
with fair but ruddy complexion, blue 
eyes, and light auburn hair ? m$> % 



THE BOY PKEACHER. 117 



light, though shrill voice. For two 
or three years after he entered the 
itinerant field, he was commonly 
known as u the Boy Preacher." Take 
an illustration or two : At a quarter- 
ly meeting, in a prominent village, he 
was asked to take a seat in the pul- 
pit. A lady coming into the house 
and seeing him in the pulpit, whis- 
pered to one who sat near her, "I 
wonder if that hoy is going to preach," 
little dreaming that that hoy would, 
in after years, become her partner for 
life. At another time Henry had 
preached in town in the morning, 
and to reach his afternoon appoint- 
ment, he attempted to follow a short- 
er though less plain road. He 
called at a house to inquire the way. 
The man of the house told him which 
way to go, and then inquired his 



118 BACKWOODS BOY. 



business. Henry told him that he 
had an appointment to preach. The 
man replied : " What, you preach 
the Gospel ! Such a green-gosling 
looking fellow as you preach the 
Gospel ! You'd better go home and 
go to husking corn !" 

Henry thought there might be 
more truth than poetry in the man's 
retort, and turned away and left him, 
the more thoughtful for the recep- 
tion he had met. 

On his way he well nigh mired 
his horse, but he reached his appoint- 
ment, and found the house crowded, 
and God blessed him wonderfully 
in attempting to speak in his name. 
He afterward rode about three miles 
further, and preached with uncom- 
mon liberty to another houseful! 
By this help from Heaven his heart 



THE BOY PEEACHEE. 119 



was strengthened and encouraged, 
and lie became more than ever re- 
solved so to conduct himself in pub- 
lic and in private that no man should 
despise his youth. 

At the close of the conference, 
which had convened about the mid- 
dle of August, word reached Henry 
that he had been received on trial, 
and appointed to JSTorthford Circuit, 
only about eighteen miles distant 
from Newstead. This was a large, 
laborious circuit, much of it a wilder- 
ness, and embracing dreary, dismal 
swamps. In the center, however, 
there was a very flourishing town, 
where he and his colleague preached 
once every Sabbath alternately. 

Part of this year Henry was sore- 
ly afflicted with his side-difficulty, 
which his many exposures greatly ag- 



120 BACKWOODS BOY. 



grevated. His afflictions were in- 
creased by an attack of the measles, 
which he thought, at one time, would 
end his life. But he felt ready either 
to live or die as the Lord should 
choose. On recovering from the 
measles his general health was much 
better than before. 

Henry spent this year in reading, 
studying, writing, visiting, traveling, 
preaching, and praying with the peo- 
ple, during which God gave him fresh 
tokens that he had called him to labor 
in his vineyard. In the principal 
town the people in general appeared 
much hardened, and little fruit seemed 
to result from his efforts, united with 
those of one of the best of colleagues. 
But at several other points God was 
pleased to revive his work, and espe- 
cially among the children and youth. 



THE BOY PEE A CHER. 121 



At one place about twenty, from the 
age of eight and upward, became the 
subjects of converting grace; and so 
marked and powerful was the change, 
that some of the more advanced in 
years were afterward added to the 
Church, through their pious example. 
The year, which was a very laborious 
one throughout, closed with an in- 
teresting camp-meeting, from which 
Henry went with the elder and some 
of the other preachers to attend, for 
the first time, the annual conference, 
fifty or sixty miles distant. 

In the doings of the conference 
the reader will feel no particular in- 
terest. The result, as it regarded 
Henry Adolph, was to hoist him some 
distance from his friends into the 
northwest, within one of the then ter- 
ritories of our great frontier. We 



122 BACKWOODS BOY. 



will call the circuit Oakville. It 
embraced several thriving villages, 
settled mostly with intelligent and 
enterprising Eastern people. One of 
them was at the termination of a rail- 
road which has since been greatly 
extended. Surrounding those villages 
the circuit embraced quite an area of 
country, some of it heavily timbered, 
and having rough and muddy roads 
as the only avenues of travel. But 
in general the circuit lay in undu- 
lating openings, and the roads were 
quite good. 

From conference Henry went home, 
and spent two days with his friends, 
preaching for them on the Sabbath. 
He then took leave of his weeping 
mother and friends, to go as a stranger 
in a strange land to preach Christ. 
The tenderness of such a parting 




FORDING A RIVER. 



THE BOY PREACHER. 125 

scene is not known to any but those 
who have experienced it. On his way 
to his new field, he was compelled to 
ford a large river, and not being suf- 
ficiently acquainted with the crossing, 
he went a little too low down stream ; 
the result was, that the horse had to 
swim, and he became very wet, and 
got his clothes and books in his saddle- 
bags wet. In this condition he rode 
all day over a very disagreeable road 
while it rained nearly all the time. 
At night he stopped at a miserable 
tavern where he could not dry his 
clothes, or sleep for other annoyances. 
The next morning, still wet, cold, and 
uncomfortable, he paid his bill, and 
started very early for his circuit, and 
arrived at a small village within its 
bounds, in time to breakfast with 
some of his members. Here, as at 

8 



126 BACKWOODS BOY. 



other points on the circuit, he was 
received with true Christian hospi- 
tality, and soon made to feel at 
home. 

It was to Henry's advantage this 
year to be junior preacher again. It 
was an important year with him, as 
he must pass his examination at the 
next conference for full membership 
as a traveling preacher. The pre- 
siding elder was a man of very re- 
spectable attainments, a popular and 
highly-esteemed minister, and a great 
friend to the young men in his dis- 
trict, especially to such as were of 
studious habits. Henry found in him 
an ardent and faithful friend. 

At one point on this circuit two 
band societies were formed, with one 
of which Henry was connected. Two 
of the young men who used to meet 



THE BOY PREACHER. 127 

with him at the hour of five o'clock 
in the morning, in band meetings, 
are now prominent ministers in one 
of our Western conferences. We 
may see from this fact the connection 
of youthful traits with after life. 

A considerable part of this year 
Henry labored with great bodily af- 
fliction. His side troubled him much ; 
but he endeavored to devote all his 
powers to his Master's work. His 
rule was to rise at four o'clock in the 
morning. He carried books with him 
wherever he went, and endeavored 
to redeem time for study. In his 
preaching he insisted much on holi- 
ness of heart and life, and his memo- 
randa preserved at the time, shows 
how his own soul went out in long- 
ing desire to be fully conformed to 
the image of God. 



128 BACKWOODS BOY. 



There was no general revival on 
the circuit, and yet there were few 
points where there were not some 
conversions, and several professed to 
be sanctified. 

Thus filled up with active duties, 
the year soon rolled round, and 
Henry rejoiced to meet the ministers 
and preachers at conference in the 

city of . He had endeavored 

to be ready for his examination, 
which was to be before an experi- 
enced and able committee. This 
long-dreaded ordeal he passed better 
than all his fears, and was received 

into full membership in the 

conference. The Friday before his 
ordination was to him a very solemn 
day, which he spent in fasting and 
prayer, preparatory to taking upon 
him the weighty vows of the min- 



THE BOY PKEACHEE. 129 

istry. He was ordained deacon by 
the late venerable Bishop Roberts. 

At this conference the most prom- 
inent town within the bonnds of the 
circuit traveled by Henry the pre- 
vious year was set off as a station, 
which we will call Attica, with a 
few out appointments attached. To 
this station he was sent for the com- 
ing year. 

We have now followed the Back- 
woods Boy through numerous changes 
and vicissitudes, till, in the provi- 
dence of God, we find him inducted 
into the regular ministry. His suc- 
cess was even beyond his own expec- 
tations, in view of the many priva- 
tions, hardships, and opposing influ- 
ences of his early days. This success 
was owing, in part, to systematic and 
diligent application to study and the 



130 BACKWOODS BOY. 



work of his calling, in which he was 
guided and strengthened from above, 
in answer to fervent and believing 
prayer. 



LIFE IN THE MINISTRY. 131 



CHAPTER VIII 

LIFE IN THE MINISTRY. 

Our last interview with the sub- 
ject of these brief sketches was at 
the conference where he received his 
appointment to the Attica station. 
A little back of this date was an 
event of considerable importance, 
which we will now notice. 

A short time prior to the confer- 
ence just mentioned, Henry assumed 
the responsibilities of married life. 
Far separated from all his relatives, 
he found a most congenial spirit in 
the person of Miss Celia Cady. 
Though, like Henry, she had suffered 
the want of early advantages, she 
had, as a gift of Providence, a mind 



132 BACKWOODS BOY. 



of a liigli order, which, despite the 
obstacles in her way, had already de- 
veloped into maturity beyond her 
years. At the early age of twelve 
she was soundly converted to God, 
and united with the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and became a devoted, 
consistent and active member. 

She was remarkably gifted in 
prayer, and was much at home in the 
Sunday school, a place where she 
loved to labor. She was plain, but 
scrupulously neat and tidy in her 
dress and personal appearance. And 
the same order and neatness which 
she evinced in her person marked 
all her household duties. In short, 
she was, both by nature and grace, 
fitted to be the partner of a travel- 
ing Methodist preacher. Her warm- 
est sympathies were with the high 



LIFE IN THE MESTSTKY. 133 

calling of Henry, and from the time 
that this happy union was consum- 
mated, she felt that she was solemnly 
consecrated to this holy work with- 
in her sphere. 

They met a very cordial reception 
in the Attica station from the mem- 
bers of the Church. Their first set- 
ting out was a matter of no great 
importance. With limited means, 
they commenced housekeeping in a 
way suited to their circumstances. 
Their wants were few, and these, 
with God's blessing, were supplied. 
All in all, perhaps no union was ever 
more congenial or happy than this one. 

Thus matters begun and continued 
for some time. But with passing 
months came a change. Mercies be- 
gan to be mingled with judgments, 
and the bright visions of the future 



134 BACKWOODS BOY. 

were overhung with a dark cloud. 
Mrs. Adolph was laid upon a bed 
of sickness. The ravages of a quick 
consumption became fearfully evi- 
dent. Medical skill and the most 
vigilant attention of kind and sym- 
pathizing friends proved useless and 
vain. In short, after the brief space 
of four months and nine days from 
their marriage, surrounded by the 
sweet stillness of the holy Sabbath, 
she fell asleep in Jesus, and her 
blood- washed spirit flew to join the 
Church of the first-born, to spend 
an unending Sabbath in heaven. 

The full effect of this stroke on 
Henry is known only to himself. I 
will attempt no description. It may 
suffice, that while the deep sympa- 
thies of his heart could only find 
suitable expression in flowing tears, 



LITE THE MTNTSTKY. 135 

by the grace of God lie was enabled 
to exclaim, as he saw the conflict end- 
ed, M The Lord gave and the Lord 
hath taken away ; and blessed be the 
name of the Lord." 

Previous to their marriage Miss 
Cady's friends had left and gone to 
another state, and in those hours of 
sorrow there was not a relative on 
either side present. Henry followed, 
as a lone mourner, the remains of his 
departed youthful companion, which 
were laid beneath the snow of De- 
cember, to await a glorious resurrec- 
tion. Hallowed are these mournful 
recollections ! The balmy atmosphere 
of heaven seemed to fan the last 
hours of this youthful disciple, ripe 
for her heavenly home. Dear reader, 
would you die as she died ? Then 
live as she lived. 



136 BACKWOODS BOY. 



Though Henry was far separated 
from relatives, lie was not without 
friends who kindly sympathized with 
him in this heavy affliction. This 
fiery trial was sanctified to his spir- 
itual good. He received a new bap- 
tism from on high, and felt a new 
consecration to the work of the min- 
istry. And as the winter passed 
along, his heart was cheered with the 
evidences of Divine approval, in his 
efforts to save souls. About New 
Year a very gracious revival broke 
out in his charge, and a goodly num- 
ber were converted and added to the 
Church under his ministry. He was 
permitted also to respond to the Mace- 
donian call from a neighboring charge, 
where a revival had commenced, in 
which, under his labors, united with 
those of the circuit preacher, nearly 



LIFE IN THE MENTSTKY. 137 

the entire neighborhood embraced 
religion. Thus the year closed as 
one of great spiritual prosperity to 
the Church. 

At the next conference Henry re- 
ceived his apj)ointment to the Cale- 
donia station. This was a flourishing 
town of several thousand inhabitants, 
connected with other important points 
by railroad. This charge, being 
among a highly intelligent class of in- 
habitants, and a place of some note, 
was evidence of the confidence placed 
in Henry by his esteemed presiding 
elder. It was with great fear and 
trembling that he entered upon the 
duties of his new field. 

At the commencement of the con- 
ference year, Henry again thought it 
his duty to change his relation in life, 
and he gave his hand to a Christian 



138 BACKWOODS BOY; 



lady, who lias since proved a worthy 
helpmeet in the labors and sacrifices 
of the itinerant life. 

This was a year of some good 
degree of success and prosperity, 
mingled with sore trials of mind and 
deep afflictions of body. All the year 
a very intelligent and often large 
congregation attended upon the min- 
istry of the word. Several souls 
were converted and united with the 
Church, though the revival did not 
become very general. Henry here 
met some opposing influences in his 
attempts to discharge his ministerial 
duty, to which he had before been a 
stranger. In their midst his faith was 
severely tested ; but he was enabled 
gradually to rise above them; and 
before the year closed the difficulties 
that occasioned them vanished. 



LIFE M THE MINISTRY. 139 

In the opening spring Henry was 
laid np for two or three weeks with, 
ague. With this exception, he and 
Mrs. Adolph enjoyed pretty good 
health till near the close of the year. 
It was an un usually sickly summer. 
Henry was called to attend frequent 
funerals, and to be much among the 
afflicted. Xow he was brought very 
low by a malignant fever. He was 
just able to rise from his bed, when 
Mrs. Adolph was attacked with the 
same disease and brought to the verge 
of death. Her life was despaired of 
by all who saw her. At the same 
time Henry's sister, living with them, 
was taken sick, and one was scarcely 
able to afford help to the other ; but 
with God's blessing, and the help of 
a good physician and kind neighbors 
and friends, they all gradually recov- 



140 BACKWOODS BOY. 



ered, but not without frequent attacks 
of ague all the following winter. 

Several other stations that Henry 
was called to fill we must pass over 
with great brevity. The next was a 
station consisting of two villages, situ- 
ated about four miles apart, where, 
with his family, Henry spent a pleas- 
ant and profitable year. His strength 
was so reduced from his recent afflic- 
tions, that for some months he could 
not labor with his wonted energy. 

Henry went the next year from this 
station to a circuit, and for the first 
time had a junior preacher to help 
him. The principal point was a con- 
siderable town, where preaching was 
kept up every Sunday. During the 
winter the Church in this place was 
strengthened by a number of conver- 
sions and additions. 



LIFE IN THE MINISTRY. 141 



This year Mr. Adolph's family was 
increased by the birth of a daughter. 
This blessing was received thankfully 
as a gift of heaven; and at an early 
day she was consecrated to God in 
holy baptism. 

From this station Mr. Adolph re- 
moved to a large four weeks' circuit 
as preacher in charge. The first year 
he was assisted by an aged minister, 
who had spent the prime and vigor 
of his life in the itinerancy, and who 
still, as a preacher, was fall of the fire 
of his youth. In the exercise of dis- 
cipline a number were this year laid 
aside from Church fellowship, but 
their loss was more than made up by 
others who united. All the interests 
of the Church were promoted, and 
God gave his servants witness that he 

owned and blessed their labors. 

9 



142 BACKWOODS BOY. 



The following year Mr. Adolph 
returned to the same charge. But 
a division was made in the circuit 
shortly after, and the portion within 
which he lived assigned to him. In 
the town where he resided the Church 
appeared to be gradually gathering 
strength, and was in a healthy state. 
On New Year's eve he held a watch- 
night here, and preached to the people 
with great liberty and the unction of 
the Spirit on the redemption of time. 
The word took effect, and a good 
revival commenced from that meet- 
ing, which resulted in the happy 
conversion of a goodly number of 
souls, comprising children, and youth, 
and persons in middle age. The 
interest of the meetings kept up 
through the rest of the year, when 
Mr. Adolph was permitted to close 



LIFE IN THE MINISTRY. 143 

two years spent very pleasantly, and 
it is hoped usefully, with the people 
of this charge. When he took his 
leave of them the separation was 
deeply affecting. 

In this chapter we have glanced 
rapidly over a period of six years 
among the most active and laborious 
of Mr. Adolph's itinerant life. The 
sketch, as a matter of course, is im- 
perfect. Many incidents have been 
passed over, and others only given 
in part. At the commencement of 
those six years a serious calamity 
came upon the people, in the shape 
of broken banks and bad money. 
There were great want and suffering 
in the country for years, as a result ; 
and no class of the community felt the 
hard times like the Methodist preach- 
ers. They could obtain but little 



144 BACKWOODS BOY. 



money, and it was often hard to 
make the ends of the year meet. 
This state of things pressed severely 
on Mr. Adolph, and the prospect was 
often so dark that he could see but 
a short distance ahead. But his 
trust was in God, who took care of 
him and his family, and brought him 
safely through, after long waiting in 
the use of appointed means. 

In the midst of the active duties 
of the ministry, Mr. Adolph strove 
to redeem time for study, in which 
he continued to make progress. He 
often committed his thoughts to 
paper, an exercise in which, from a 
child, he delighted. As a means of 
discipline to the mind, he occasionally 
wrote for the periodical press. Most 
of the articles thus furnished were 
published in a branch of the "Advo- 



LITE EST THE MINISTRY. 145 

cate family." He became convinced 
that, whatever others might do, for 
him to succeed as a preacher of the 
Gospel he must study and write. He 
believed the adage his old preceptor 
used to repeat in the hearing of his 
pupils : " He who reads much will be 
a full man ; he who converses much a 
ready man ; but he who writes much 
a correct man." 



146 BACKWOODS BOY. 



CHAPTER IX. 

HEjSTRY'S mission life. 

In the providence of God a new 
field of action seemed to open before 
Mr. Adolph. The great mission field 
was spread out on every hand, and 
he had often felt that, if duty should 
call him in that direction, he would 
be willing to labor, and, if need be, 
to suffer, in planting the standard of 
the cross on heathen ground. But 
he made no offer of himself or of his 
services, content to follow in this, 
as in other matters, the openings of 
Providence. 

At the annual conference imme- 
diately following the time mention- 
ed in the chapter just closed, Mr. 



MISSION LIFE. 



147 



Adolph was urged, by one of the 
superintendents of missions, to de- 
vote himself to this work among the 
Indians of the far north. This call 
was deliberately and prayerfully 
weighed, and resulted in clear con- 
viction of duty, and drew from the 
heart the » response, " Here am I, 
Lord, send me." The appointment 
was accordingly made by the bishop 
presiding at the conference. 

With all possible dispatch Mr. 
Adolph and his family made their way, 
mostly by water, several hundred 
miles, to his new field among the red 
men of the wilderness. 

It would be entirely aside from my 
plan to enter into a detail of the 
labors, travels, privations, and expo- 
sures of Mr. Adolph and his family 
in their missionary efforts. All that 



148 BACKWOODS BOY. 



I can do here is to give a rapid sketch. 
The scene of his missionary labors 
bordered on a magnificent inland sea, 
once known by the name of "Lake 
Tracy." The country was a wild and 
inhospitable region, with few excep- 
tions, inhabited by tribes of Indians. 
The winters were long, and often 
exceedingly cold, and snow was fre- 
quently four or five feet deep on a 
level. For four years successively 
Mr. Adolph labored among the In- 
dians at different points, teaching, 
preaching, and doing the work of a 
Christian pastor, and traveling from 
place to place, both in winter and 
summer, to visit the scattered bands. 
Added to all this, he found it often 
necessary to labor hard with his 
hands, as a pattern of industry to the 
Indians, who needed to be instructed 



MISSION LIFE. 



149 



in all the arts of civilized life. And 
while Mr. Adolph was thus employed, 
Mrs. Adolph strove to give suitable 
lessons to the female Indians, both by- 
precept and example, in the various 
domestic duties. 

This field was proverbially unprom- 
ising, like the dreary aspect of the 
country itself. But although the 
visible fruits of the efforts here put 
forth did not appear so abundant as 
in many places, good results were 
often apparent. The Indians were 
seen generally to advance in the arts 
of civilized life; the Church was 
occasionally strengthened by the ad- 
dition of converts from paganism; 
and in the happy death of some 
of the Christian Indians, the blessed 
ripe fruits of missionary efforts were 
seen. 



150 BACKWOODS BOY. 



Within the period of which, we now 
speak, the tide of white population 
began to flow into that remote region. 
Men came to seek their fortune in 
mining for copper and other minerals, 
and it was not long before a promising 
field opened among them for mission- 
ary effort. This field was assigned to 
Henry, and in this he labored accord- 
ing to his ability during one entire 
year and portions of another. Those 
efforts imposed upon him long jour- 
neys on foot, and often alone, through 
the dense forest, with only an occasional 
log-cabin or hut to break the dreary 
solitude. In the winter he traveled 
on snow-shoes, often carrying a con- 
siderable pack on his back. In some 
of his travels in that wild region he 
has slept night after night in the 
wilderness, making his " nest," as the 



MISSION LIFE. 



151 



Indians say, in the deep snow. At 
different times lie lost his way, and 
once was on the brink of perishing 
from fatigue and exhaustion, after 
being out nearly two days and one 
night, forcing his way through dismal 
swamps, with no trail or human foot- 
prints to guide him. 

The pioneers of the wilderness 
received him gladly, sat attentively 
under his ministrations, and contrib- 
uted generously to his support. In 
several places he was the first to 
unfurl the banner of the cross, and 
gather together a few of the founda- 
tion materials of the future Church. 
Though those efforts were bestowed 
on a floating population, the seed of 
eternal life was sown in some hearts, 
the fruit of which is yet to be gath- 
ered into the garner of heaven. 



152 BACKWOODS BOY. 



From the field embracing the white 
population Mr. Adolph was removed 
to one much more extended and 
responsible. He was appointed su- 
perintendent of the missions in the 
entire region of Lake Tracy. Here, 
considering the number of missionaries 
he had to deal with, the large scope 
of country he must travel, the affairs, 
temporal and spiritual, which, to a 
considerable extent, he must oversee, 
among the Indians, all these and many 
other things he found to give him all 
that he could do with his head, and 
heart, and hands. The extent of his 
field was about fifteen hundred miles, 
which he traveled once every summer, 
by water and on foot, besides what he 
traveled in the winter on snow-shoes. 
He could only have access to the 
whole district in the summer season. 



MISSION LIFE. 



153 



Some four years were devoted to 
the arduous toils of the district. These 
were the most successful years Henry 
witnessed in the Lake Tracy country. 
He was permitted to see several so- 
cieties gathered together among the 
white population, Sunday schools 
planted, temperance societies formed, 
and a lively interest taken in the 
great missionary cause. 

Among the Indians the good work 
was seen steadily to advance. They 
were seen to quit the chase and 
adopt the habits of civilized life. 
They gave up their gods of wood 
and stone — renounced their many 
deities which, as they supposed, peo- 
ple earth and heaven, and embraced 
Jesus as the Saviour of sinners. Many 
of them became the happy subjects 
of converting and renewing grace, 



154 



BACKWOODS BOY. 



and, if they prove faithful onto the 
end, will one day join the general as- 
sembly and Church of the first-born 
in heaven. 

It is not my purpose to follow 
Henry Adolph any farther in his 
itinerant career. He still lives, and 
is no doubt in his niich somewhere 
in the great field, preaching Jesus 
and the resurrection. I must close 
my narrative with a few of the 
characteristics of the country in 
which Mr. Adolph labored as a mis- 
sionary. 

CLIMATE. 

The ruggedness of the winters has 
already been spoken of. To this it 
may be added that during the sum- 
mer season the air is most pure and 
bracing. And nothing can exceed 



MISSION LIFE. 



155 



the purity and transparency of the 
waters in its springs and lakes. The 
country is proverbially healthful. It 
has now become a great resort for 
the traveling public, especially dur- 
ing the sickly season. 

PKODUCTS. 

These are copper, iron, lumber, and 
fish of several varieties, and taken in 
great abundance. Sugar is another 
important commodity, which the In- 
dians make, in large quantities, for 
sale and home use. The soil pro- 
duces in abundance grass, oats, peas, 
potatoes and turnips, and most gar- 
den roots. Among the fruits are the 
cranberry, the whortleberry, and the 
red raspberry. The last two are 
found in almost any quantity. One 
man in that country is getting rich 



156 BACKWOODS BOY. 



by making raspberry jam, which he 
puts up in jars, and sends off in boats 
to a distant market. One part of 
the district produced wild rice. 

MAIMER OF LIYIKG, TRAVEL, ETC. 

I must be excused from giving 
here a description of the manners and 
customs of the Indians specifically. 
The youthful reader may find books 
which are devoted to this subject, 
which he will do. well to read. 

There are some respects, however, 
in which the country here spoken of 
is isolated from the rest of the world, 
and in the early day now spoken of 
the manner of life was different from, 
what we find it in civilized lands. 
Among the leading articles of food 
were flour, pork, corn, fish, and pota- 
toes. In some parts wild rice was 



MISSION LITE. 157 



used freely. To this we may add 
tea and coffee, of which the natives 
especially were passionately fond; 
and too many, alas, would drink 
whisky when they could get it. 

In the winter season the people, 
both whites and Indians, traveled al- 
most exclusively on snow-shoes, some- 
times accompanied by a dog-train to 
carry their bedding and provision. 
But often they carried everything on 
their back. When night overtook 
them on their long marches they 
generally cleared away the snow 
with a cedar snow-shovel, laid down 
branches of hemlock, balsam, or 
cedar, for a couch. Before this they 
built a large fire, where, after pro- 
viding their supper, and chopping 
wood for the night, they slept wrap- 
ped up in a single blanket. Occa- 
10 



158 BACKWOODS BOY. 



sionally a white man was fortunate 
enough to have two blankets. 

In the summer season the usual 
way of traveling was either in open 
boats, propelled by oars or sails, or 
in canoes made of very thin pieces of 
cedar, and covered with birch bark. 
Many of these were model crafts, made 
with great ingenuity by the Indians. 
As an evidence of the use that can 
be made of them, Mr. Adolph once 
moved a distance of two hundred and 
fifty miles with his family, in a bark 
canoe, taking along his winter sup- 
plies. They were on the way twelve 
days and nights, lodging in a tent 
while on shore ; and in his visits 
around his district Mr. Adolph trav- 
eled thousands of miles in this way. 

Toward the close of Henry's stay 
in that country the facilities for travel- 



MISSION LIFE. 



161 



ing became much greater. Schooners, 
and propellers, and steamboats be- 
came common. He traveled by all 
the different modes of conveyance, 
and was sometimes in perils on the 
deep as well as on land. 

I deem it unnecessary to moralize 
or philosophize in closing up this 
brief narrative. I hope my youthful 
readers will conclude with me that 
it is a great blessing to have religious 
parents and to receive early religious 
instruction. I hope they have been 
impressed with the importance of 
early piety, as related in this story. 
They will see also that the road to 
success are patience and perseverance, 
till difficulties are surmounted and 
the desired end gained. 

If the youthful reader wishes to 
see the various phases of mission life 



162 BACKWOODS BOY. 



in so rugged a country as that in 
which Henry Adolph lived and la- 
bored, he may be referred to a book 
published at the Methodist Book Con- 
cern in Cincinnati, entitled " Lights 
and Shades of Missionary Life." The 
scenes there described are so much 
like many of those through which 
Henry Adolph passed, that, without 
great care, the reader will be in dan- 
ger of confounding the two stories. 
May we not hope that he will have 
sufficient discernment to perceive the 
lines of distinction, and to avoid any 
very great mistake in the matter. 

And now the writer must take 
leave of the youthful reader, with 
the sincere hope that this humble 
effort may, with God's blessing, con- 
tribute something to promote the 
salvation and happiness of some of 



MISSIOK LIFE. 



163 



the multitudes of children and youth, 
who throng our Sunday schools. If 
this simple story should lead one soul 
to Christ, and place one star in the 
writer's crown of rejoicing in heaven, 
it would be an ample reward for 
these well-meant, though imperfect 
services. Dear children and youth, 
to most of whom the writer is a 
stranger, let us so live as to have a 
happy greeting by and by on the 
shore of the immortal, blood-washed 
throng in glory. 



THE END. 




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